As the title said my teacher gave this essay 4.5/10, I'm just wondering if this is actually deserving of such a low mark(in the exam):S or if he's being overly harsh...
Anyway, thanks for looking. And if you have any feedback that is appreciated also
Text: On the Waterfront (film)
Topic: “You’re just as bad as the worst of them!” Do you agree with Edie’s assessment of Terry?
Terry Malloy, the protagonist in Elia Kazan’s award winning film On the Waterfront, undergoes amazing transformation through the movie. The scared “kid” we see in the initial stages is shifted to produce a powerful, resilient man whose will does not bend for fear of any “hawk”. Edie’s assessment of Terry, whereby she labels him “just as bad as the worst of them”, groups Terry with the likes of Johnny Friendly and his goons – the very worst the waterfront has to offer and is made whilst Terry is on the verge of passing from the ‘ownership’ of Friendly. Edie’s claim is uttered when she discovers Terry’s involvement in the murder of her brother, Joey. From her current perspective Terry’s pernicious side may well be comparable to that of Friendly. Though as the film progresses we realise Terry’s alteration; through relationships and circumstances he is amended.
Initially, Terry is “owned” by Johnny Friendly – he is caught in his mob. We discover that in Terry’s younger days he was a “prize fighter”, and was close to competing for a title, but Johnny Friendly placed bets against Terry and instructed him to concede the match. Terry didn’t “take Wilson apart” as he could have, instead he, on Charley’s word, took a “dive” for the “short-end money.” All he accrued through conceding the match was “a couple of bucks and a one-way ticket to Palookaville” – from here he fell in with Friendly. Consequently, Terry was lead to partake in an immoral lifestyle: he would frequent bars; be involved in, or at the very least aware of, beatings, murders and thievery; and he only ever knew the kind of girls which you just “grab.” Terry’s clearly selfish lifestyle is devoid of “care” and is epitomised by his philosophy “do it to him before he does it to you.” Terry’s attitude is congruent with this statement in the early stages of the film; and remains so until Edie challenges him with the accusation of parity with Johnny Friendly and the worst of his goons. At this stage of Terry’s life he is one of Friendly’s goons and although he certainly appears to possibly be ranked among the worst he is never pleased in his position.
Throughout Terry’s time with Friendly and the longshoremen he is discontented and as the plot unfolds he begins to doubt the very group to which he belongs. Terry’s discomfort is envisioned through the skilful acting of Marlon Brando: Brando often looks away from those which he is speaking with, signifying Terry’s adamant displeasure. Moreover, Brando’s general mannerisms attest to Terry’s unease; Terrys restlessness, combined with his aforementioned displeasure, emphasises his anguished anxiety – with himself, his circumstances and his surroundings. Terry begins to become uncertain of his situation, he loses faith in Johnny friendly and his mob. Terry’s displeasure is fuelled by his recent insights into the workings of the mob, he was lied to: he did not anticipate Joey’s murder, the worst he expected was for them to “work him over a little”, get him to “dummy up”. The reason Terry did not expect such strong actions by the mob is that he was told that they were “only going to talk to him”. Compounding his doubts is the way which he is treated, clearly shown in the bar scene where his intelligence is mocked, by such statements as “Einstein”, used in sarcasm; “what mind?”; and “only arithmetic he got was hearing the referee count up to ten”. These remarks are used in direct ridicule of Terry. He is infuriated by these attacks, and within him contempt for Johnny Friendly, and his goons, begins to fester. At this moment it is clear that Terry’s trust in Friendly is regressing from its prior level, he is evidently withdrawing from his previous state of faith in Friendly.
It is not surprising that the deceit and insult Terry encounters coupled with his newfound love for Edie leads him to abandon his life with the mob. As Terry’s faith depletes so too does his compliance with Friendly’s orders; simultaneously he opens his eyes and ears, discarding the conventional “D&D” act, and is confronted with the deplorable actions of Friendly. He can not stand to see such atrocities committed – through his relationship with Edie and Father Barry he begins to consistently be prodded by his conscience – thus he testifies. Terry’s testimony is a final testament to his development. Early in the film, when Terry is still under Friendly’s ‘ownership’, Terry proclaims “I won’t eat cheese […] that’s for sure”, a stark contrast to his eventual “ratting”. Here alone we see the reality of Terry’s change of heart he has come from living “like an animal” to rejoicing over “knocking out for good” a “cheap conniving good-for-nothing bum”.
Is Terry as bad as the worst of them? How can he be, when his discomfort and unease in his position within Friendly’s mob is so strong. He is constantly fidgeting, and loathes the call of his “good friend” Johnny Friendly. The mob disconcerts him, he would rather be elsewhere. Terry does emigrate, he leaves Friendly’s mob, and finds himself freer – he can do as he pleases, his true self shines through. He is not like the rest of Friendly’s goons; none of them have the strength, or the desire, to testify. Many members of the mob never even consider “ratting”, undoubtedly Terry is disjoint from the iniquity of Friendly and is set apart from the mob, he is different. His strong remorse encapsulated in the line following: “I have been ratting on myself for years.” In itself this verifies Terry’s absolute distinction from “the worst of them”.
Thanks again
Home
Help
Search
Login
